Chapter 25

“Oh, baby, no…not now…are we still gonna meet on the twenty-second? I sure as hell hope so.”

Somehow, Sam always managed to hear only part of what this woman said—the part that referred to wanting to be with Sam. The other weird crap Valerie came out with tended to be wafted away in the breezeand forgotten.

“Of course, if you’ll be okay. I mean, if I won’t interfere with anything…”

“Well, I feel like shit right now, and it’s not gonna get any better any time soon. But I can’t think of anyone I’d rather see to take my mind off it for a night. I’ll be there.”

“Well, okay…I’ll be glad to see you, Valerie.”

“Me, too, baby girl.” And Valerie hung up the phone.

Sam remained sitting in her office chair, staring at the phone that was still in her hand. That is the strangest conversation to have with someone who just lost her partner. She never even said how Sally died…